Why can't I download iOS 16 on iPhone 7?

iOS 16 is expected to release in the fall. The reason it won’t be available for iPhone 7 or earlier is most likely a hardware related reason, with the iPhone 7 being outdated, or soon to be outdated when iOS 16 releases

A: iOS 16 is still in beta.

B: The iPhone 7 will not be compatible with iOS 16.

According to Apple, the iPhone 7 has not optimized hardware that meets the requirements for iOS 16.

Your iPhone is too old.

iPhone 7 was released with iOS 10, 5 years ago.

It has been updated to iOS 15.

Apple has determined that iOS 16 will not run well enough on it.

The specific reasons are not provided by Apple.